"We are excited by the inclusion of your production, and trust that it will find a warm and receptive audience here," said Abraham Ferrer, Festival Co-Director. "We are currently racing to complete the final program schedule, to be announced March 31, 2009."
Director Burt Sardoma Jr. with Producers Bernie Provido Schumann and Alex C. Munoz are currently expanding the short film, Under the American Sun to a 60-minute film documentary. With work in progress, the Camp Roxas Film Project team held a successful Feb. 20 fundraiser.
The film documentary is driven by Producer Schumann's personal viewpoint as she begins to tell the story of her father's journey from Iloilo to Guam, racing against time as his mental state is diminishing. "I felt it was imperative to document this untold story of Guam's history, my father never told us about his life in Camp Roxas. He just kept reminding us that they all worked hard."
Los Angeles-based Chamorro film maker Alex Munoz stepped down as Director of the short film as Burt Sardoma transitions as the Director of the long form. "Burt has exceptional talent," said Munoz. "He is an Ilonggo and I have every confidence in Burt. But, most importantly, as a Director, he will protect to preserve the film's authenticity." Munoz maintains his role as a Producer along with Schumann.
"This exposure is a great moment for Guam, the Camp Roxas families and other Filipino laborers who now call Guam their home," said Sardoma. "I am honored that such a prestigious film festival has accepted our work and thank our community for their support."
Visual Communications is the premier Asian Pacific media arts center in the United States. One of the Asian Pacific community's most respected institutions, Visual Communications promotes intercultural understanding through the production, presentation and preservation of honest and sensitive stories about Asian Pacific people.
Visual Communications, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2000 offers historical photographic and moving image collections; independent and community production; program packaging and distribution; exhibition; media artist support; publications; training and workshops; and employment consultation services and resource sharing. The support of creative works by Asian Pacific media artists about their communities has always been a key part of the mission of Visual Communications.
FILM SCREENING
Saturday, May 2
12:30 PM
(Program 11)
Directors Guild of America
(DGA Theater 3)
UNDER THE AMERICAN SUN (Guam, 2009) Dir.: Burt Sardoma, Jr.
A preview of a longer, more- incisive history tracing the undocumented migration of Filipinos to Guam during the post-World War II era, UNDER THE AMERICAN SUN foregrounds the seemingly contradictory motives of the U.S. government to rebuild Guam after World War II, and the legacy of this forced migration on the island and its people.
